Spotlight on Brussels Events

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

Gränges (Nasdaq Stockholm) winner in the International Star category, Robit (Nasdaq Helsinki) third prize in the same category.

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 7-9 September 2016

This Autumn’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 7 -9th September in Bratislava. Nasdaq was represented by Henrik Husman, President Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård of Nasdaq´s Office of Government Relations. This key event – organised in association with the Slovak EU Council Presidency – brought together over 700 European and international participants coming from the financial industry and the regulatory authorities.

This year’s program focused on Brexit impacts, Basel rules and EU banks as well as next steps as regards the Capital Markets Union (CMU) implementation.Henrik Husman spoke on a panel ‘Leveraging Fintech in developing EU capital markets financing (crowd-funding, peer to peer, robo-advice..) Henrik highlighted Nasdaq’s initiatives based on distributed ledger technology in the US and Estonia, and generally how fintech has potential to facilitate retail participation in SME financing. Other panelists included V. Ross (ESMA), P. Zilgalvis (European Commission) and D. Geale (UK FCA). The new Commissioner for Financial Services VP Valdis Dombrovskis gave a keynote speech on the outlook for EU financial markets.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 7-9 September 2016

This Autumn’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 7 -9th September in Bratislava. Nasdaq was represented by Henrik Husman, President Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård of Nasdaq´s Office of Government Relations. This key event – organised in association with the Slovak EU Council Presidency – brought together over 700 European and international participants coming from the financial industry and the regulatory authorities.

This year’s program focused on Brexit impacts, Basel rules and EU banks as well as next steps as regards the Capital Markets Union (CMU) implementation.Henrik Husman spoke on a panel ‘Leveraging Fintech in developing EU capital markets financing (crowd-funding, peer to peer, robo-advice..) Henrik highlighted Nasdaq’s initiatives based on distributed ledger technology in the US and Estonia, and generally how fintech has potential to facilitate retail participation in SME financing. Other panelists included V. Ross (ESMA), P. Zilgalvis (European Commission) and D. Geale (UK FCA). The new Commissioner for Financial Services VP Valdis Dombrovskis gave a keynote speech on the outlook for EU financial markets.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

Nasdaq organised a well-attended seminar in Brussels on 30 June, to discuss “How to Improve Financing for European Companies?”. The European Commission’s Vice President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness and Robert Greifeld, CEO of Nasdaq, held an exchange of views on the implications of Brexit and the current situation on to financing the economy and creating growth. Vice President Katainen gave an overview on the progress of the Juncker Investment Plan and informed that the Commission’s proposal for an EU framework on venture capital will be published soon. Mr. Greifeld discussed the macro economic climate and what monetary policy can achieve and with a regard to growth, underlining the contribution of public markets in financing companies and, in particular, the role played by local ecosystems in creating a strong level of IPOs on Nasdaq First North market in the Nordics. A panel discussion followed with Cora Van Nieuwenhuizen, Liberal MEP from the Netherlands, Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist in the European Commission DG GROW, who gave introductory remarks, before Peter Branner, Head of SEB Asset Management, Ben Butters, European Chambers of Commerce, and Lauri Rosendahl, President Nasdaq Nordic, addressed a variety of topics related to the theme of the seminar.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

Ms Van Nieuwenhuizen encouraged progress on the European Fund for Strategic Investments and the Capital Markets Union (CMU), with an emphasis on supporting each and every smaller capital market and hoped the securitization framework would be in place as soon as possible. Mr. Schwerin gave an overview of the many activities the European Commission is conducting to improve access to finance for SMEs, including the COSME programme and the Capital Markets Union Action Plan, studies and workshops for instance on awareness raising and exchanges of best practices, and looking at what crowdfunding and other fintech initiatives may add. Adding that the annual Small- and Mid-Cap Awards is an example which puts a focus on SMEs.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

The panelists underlined the importance of making investments more accessible for investors. Financial education was repeatedly underlined and the improvement of the usefulness of prospectuses was welcomed. The current inflow of companies to Nordic growth markets was discussed and the possible reasons for it. Crowdfunding was debated, and while some saw a role for crowdfunding in helping smaller businesses access finance, others cautioned about the regulatory control and the limited exit possibilities.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 20-22 April 2016 -- Fredrik Voss of Nasdaq

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

From Left to right, Rainer Riess, Director General of FESE, Deirdre Somers, President of FESE and Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Stock Exchange, representative of Alumetal, CEO of Taaleritehdas, Juhani Elomaa , representative of Xeros Technology, Florence Bindelle, Secretary General European Issuers and Luc Vansteenkiste, Chairman of European Issuers.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

Second from the left: TAALERITEHDAS CEO, Juhani ELOMAA with Luc VANSTEENKISTE, Chairman of European Issuers, far right.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

From Left to right, Lauri Rosendahl, President Nasdaq Helsinki, Taaleritehdas CEO Juhani Elomaa and Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission.

1st December. At the launch of the Politico 28 people who are stirring and shaping European public life, Nasdaq hosted a number of Brussels based policy makers incl. the US Ambassador to the EU and high-level representatives from the European Commission, Parliament and Council. The Nasdaq Gala Dinner table comprised two of the Politico 28 selectees: European Commission Vice-President, Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis and President of the Economic and Financial Committee, Mr. Thomas Wieser. Discussions centered around financial markets regulations, energy markets, monetary policy, and future political outlook in Europe after the recent crisis on the financial, migration and security fronts.

Spotlight on Brussels Events

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

Gränges (Nasdaq Stockholm) winner in the International Star category, Robit (Nasdaq Helsinki) third prize in the same category.

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

European Small & Mid Cap Awards 2016

On November 17, representatives from four Nasdaq Nordic listed companies as well as a team from Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki traveled to Brussels to celebrate the annual European Small and Mid Cap Awards 2016. The award is a joint initiative by the European Commission, FESE and European Issuers, and aims to promote best practices and encourage more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets via IPOs.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 7-9 September 2016

This Autumn’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 7 -9th September in Bratislava. Nasdaq was represented by Henrik Husman, President Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård of Nasdaq´s Office of Government Relations. This key event – organised in association with the Slovak EU Council Presidency – brought together over 700 European and international participants coming from the financial industry and the regulatory authorities.

This year’s program focused on Brexit impacts, Basel rules and EU banks as well as next steps as regards the Capital Markets Union (CMU) implementation.Henrik Husman spoke on a panel ‘Leveraging Fintech in developing EU capital markets financing (crowd-funding, peer to peer, robo-advice..) Henrik highlighted Nasdaq’s initiatives based on distributed ledger technology in the US and Estonia, and generally how fintech has potential to facilitate retail participation in SME financing. Other panelists included V. Ross (ESMA), P. Zilgalvis (European Commission) and D. Geale (UK FCA). The new Commissioner for Financial Services VP Valdis Dombrovskis gave a keynote speech on the outlook for EU financial markets.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 7-9 September 2016

This Autumn’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 7 -9th September in Bratislava. Nasdaq was represented by Henrik Husman, President Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård of Nasdaq´s Office of Government Relations. This key event – organised in association with the Slovak EU Council Presidency – brought together over 700 European and international participants coming from the financial industry and the regulatory authorities.

This year’s program focused on Brexit impacts, Basel rules and EU banks as well as next steps as regards the Capital Markets Union (CMU) implementation.Henrik Husman spoke on a panel ‘Leveraging Fintech in developing EU capital markets financing (crowd-funding, peer to peer, robo-advice..) Henrik highlighted Nasdaq’s initiatives based on distributed ledger technology in the US and Estonia, and generally how fintech has potential to facilitate retail participation in SME financing. Other panelists included V. Ross (ESMA), P. Zilgalvis (European Commission) and D. Geale (UK FCA). The new Commissioner for Financial Services VP Valdis Dombrovskis gave a keynote speech on the outlook for EU financial markets.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

Nasdaq organised a well-attended seminar in Brussels on 30 June, to discuss “How to Improve Financing for European Companies?”. The European Commission’s Vice President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness and Robert Greifeld, CEO of Nasdaq, held an exchange of views on the implications of Brexit and the current situation on to financing the economy and creating growth. Vice President Katainen gave an overview on the progress of the Juncker Investment Plan and informed that the Commission’s proposal for an EU framework on venture capital will be published soon. Mr. Greifeld discussed the macro economic climate and what monetary policy can achieve and with a regard to growth, underlining the contribution of public markets in financing companies and, in particular, the role played by local ecosystems in creating a strong level of IPOs on Nasdaq First North market in the Nordics. A panel discussion followed with Cora Van Nieuwenhuizen, Liberal MEP from the Netherlands, Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist in the European Commission DG GROW, who gave introductory remarks, before Peter Branner, Head of SEB Asset Management, Ben Butters, European Chambers of Commerce, and Lauri Rosendahl, President Nasdaq Nordic, addressed a variety of topics related to the theme of the seminar.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

Ms Van Nieuwenhuizen encouraged progress on the European Fund for Strategic Investments and the Capital Markets Union (CMU), with an emphasis on supporting each and every smaller capital market and hoped the securitization framework would be in place as soon as possible. Mr. Schwerin gave an overview of the many activities the European Commission is conducting to improve access to finance for SMEs, including the COSME programme and the Capital Markets Union Action Plan, studies and workshops for instance on awareness raising and exchanges of best practices, and looking at what crowdfunding and other fintech initiatives may add. Adding that the annual Small- and Mid-Cap Awards is an example which puts a focus on SMEs.

How to Improve Financing for European Companies Event -- 30 June 2016

The panelists underlined the importance of making investments more accessible for investors. Financial education was repeatedly underlined and the improvement of the usefulness of prospectuses was welcomed. The current inflow of companies to Nordic growth markets was discussed and the possible reasons for it. Crowdfunding was debated, and while some saw a role for crowdfunding in helping smaller businesses access finance, others cautioned about the regulatory control and the limited exit possibilities.

Eurofi High Level Seminar 20-22 April 2016 -- Fredrik Voss of Nasdaq

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

This year’s Eurofi High Level Seminar was held on 20-22 April in Amsterdam. Nasdaq was represented by Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Lauri Rosendahl, Fredrik Voss, Ludovic Aigrot and Elina Yrgård.

Eurofi gathered 600+ representatives from the financial industry and Nasdaq held over 20 bilateral meetings with policy makers and prominent industry representatives during the conference.

Hans-Ole Jochumsen spoke on a panel, chaired by ESMA President Stephen Maijoor, on ‘Is the CMU on a right track?’ evaluating CMU´s progress. He focused on the need to support job creation and the link with encouraging public market financing of SMEs. Fredrik Voss spoke on a panel, chaired by MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker, on ‘Prospects of growing electronification in the capital markets’ (fintech, blockchain, electronic platform) and concentrated on the need for regulation to facilitate innovation including regarding blockchain.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

From Left to right, Rainer Riess, Director General of FESE, Deirdre Somers, President of FESE and Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Stock Exchange, representative of Alumetal, CEO of Taaleritehdas, Juhani Elomaa , representative of Xeros Technology, Florence Bindelle, Secretary General European Issuers and Luc Vansteenkiste, Chairman of European Issuers.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

Second from the left: TAALERITEHDAS CEO, Juhani ELOMAA with Luc VANSTEENKISTE, Chairman of European Issuers, far right.

Under the auspices of the European Commission, FESE together with European Issuers co-hosted in Brussels a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the 3rd European and Mid-Cap Awards. The event was sponsored by Nasdaq.

The four awards categories were: Best new listed Company; Most innovative Newcomer; Most Internationally Minded Company and Rising Star.

Nasdaq representative Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Helsinki hosted on the occasion of this ceremony the CEO and officers of TAALERITEHDAS (listed on First North) who were awarded a second place in the Best New listed company category. He was also joined by Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission; Guillaume Prache, SG of Better Finance; Carmine Di Noia, Deputy DG, Assonime. In addition to Lauri Rosendahl, Nasdaq was represented at the event by Maarit Bystedt of Nasdaq Helsinki as well as Ludovic Aigrot, Elina Yrgård and Kristiina Mossop of Nasdaq Brussels Office.

From Left to right, Lauri Rosendahl, President Nasdaq Helsinki, Taaleritehdas CEO Juhani Elomaa and Dr. Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist at the European Commission.

1st December. At the launch of the Politico 28 people who are stirring and shaping European public life, Nasdaq hosted a number of Brussels based policy makers incl. the US Ambassador to the EU and high-level representatives from the European Commission, Parliament and Council. The Nasdaq Gala Dinner table comprised two of the Politico 28 selectees: European Commission Vice-President, Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis and President of the Economic and Financial Committee, Mr. Thomas Wieser. Discussions centered around financial markets regulations, energy markets, monetary policy, and future political outlook in Europe after the recent crisis on the financial, migration and security fronts.

Nasdaq provides financing capabilities to large and small enterprises. This includes initial public offerings as well as share issuance by existing listed companies or also by way of acquisition of existing listed companies.

MiFID is the key European legislation that provides the basis for providing services on financial instruments in Europe. The currently ongoing revision of MiFID is an essential part of many structural reforms in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

Confidence in financial and commodities markets is fundamental for the development of the economy; market integrity needs to be guaranteed. The MAD introduced a framework harmonizing core concepts and rules on information disclosure and market abuse.

For the protection of investors, Nasdaq believes in setting stringent standards for a company's employees, officers and directors. Implicit in this philosophy is the importance of sound corporate governance.

There are several sets of rules that apply for the issuers. Three EU Directives have been recently reviewed, the Prospectus Directive, which provide a European framework for drawing up a prospectus by an issuer and the Transparency and Accounting Directives.

Transparency and integrity of the commodities markets is one of the goals of the ongoing regulatory reforms. Increased confidence in commodities markets will benefit the users of these markets and the economy at large.